Mopar Dodge Avenger NHRA Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson returns to action this week at a track that he is very familiar with and at which he has experienced a good amount of success over the years — Atlanta Dragway, site of the 31st Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, May 13–15.
Johnson won at Atlanta in 2002 after qualifying third, claiming the second Pro Stock victory of his career. The Team Mopar veteran has since gone on to claim six more event wins. Last season the native of Greeneville, Tenn., was the top qualifier at the Southern Nationals, setting low elapsed time (ET) of the event with a pass of 6.634-seconds at 208.23 mph.
"It’s close to home," said Johnson, when asked about his past success at Atlanta. "It was our home track for the longest time until Bristol came about. We’ve done a lot of testing down there over the years. We can wait until the last minute to go down there and work on the engines and some development stuff a little longer. We are always pumped and primed when we get to that track."
Prior to heading to Atlanta, Johnson has been involved in relief efforts following the deadly tornadoes that ripped through the South on April 27. Three tornadoes touched down just a couple of miles from his home in Greeneville, Tenn., with seven people losing their lives in the destruction. The community, including Johnson and employees at his business, Greeneville Oil and Petroleum, have banded together since the tragedy to aid in the cleanup.
"We are helping out with the disaster relief as best as we can," said Johnson. "A number of my company employees are helping out with funds and fuel and things like that. We’ll continue to help out as best as we can and wish all those affected nothing but the best."
The 31st Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals is scheduled to take place May 13–15 at Atlanta Dragway in Atlanta, Ga. Two-and-half-hours of qualifying coverage will air on Saturday, May 14 beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Three hours of eliminations coverage will air on Sunday, May 15, beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more information on the NHRA, log on to NHRA.com.
Johnson won at Atlanta in 2002 after qualifying third, claiming the second Pro Stock victory of his career. The Team Mopar veteran has since gone on to claim six more event wins. Last season the native of Greeneville, Tenn., was the top qualifier at the Southern Nationals, setting low elapsed time (ET) of the event with a pass of 6.634-seconds at 208.23 mph.
"It’s close to home," said Johnson, when asked about his past success at Atlanta. "It was our home track for the longest time until Bristol came about. We’ve done a lot of testing down there over the years. We can wait until the last minute to go down there and work on the engines and some development stuff a little longer. We are always pumped and primed when we get to that track."
Prior to heading to Atlanta, Johnson has been involved in relief efforts following the deadly tornadoes that ripped through the South on April 27. Three tornadoes touched down just a couple of miles from his home in Greeneville, Tenn., with seven people losing their lives in the destruction. The community, including Johnson and employees at his business, Greeneville Oil and Petroleum, have banded together since the tragedy to aid in the cleanup.
"We are helping out with the disaster relief as best as we can," said Johnson. "A number of my company employees are helping out with funds and fuel and things like that. We’ll continue to help out as best as we can and wish all those affected nothing but the best."
The 31st Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals is scheduled to take place May 13–15 at Atlanta Dragway in Atlanta, Ga. Two-and-half-hours of qualifying coverage will air on Saturday, May 14 beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Three hours of eliminations coverage will air on Sunday, May 15, beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more information on the NHRA, log on to NHRA.com.
